The Nantes to Brest Canal and numerous lakes are within easy reach and slightly further afield, Lac de Guerledan (45 minutes' drive) has boat trips, and a variety of water sports.
There are beautiful sandy beaches within an hour's drive and the Pink Granite Coast with its spectacular walks and fresh fish restaurants is 45 minutes away.
The whole area is renowned for myths and legends, and Huelgoat (20 minutes away by car) is well known for its forest, grottos and famous 'trembling rock'.
Traditional Breton fetes are held thoughout the summer in most towns.
Carnoët is the closest village and has a post office, tabac and a small shop selling fresh bread and general provisions (open 7am to 8pm Tuesday to Saturday and 7am to 1pm Sunday)
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The two closest towns, Callac (8km) and Carhaix (13km), have markets on Wednesday and Saturday, and superb shops can be found in Quimper, Morlaix, Brest, Rennes and Vannes.
La Vallée des Saints
Less than 2 miles from the pub an information centre is being created on the site of an ancient tumulus and slightly less ancient farm. The aim is to explain how, in the early middle ages, itinerant celtic monks from Cornwall, Wales and Ireland brought christianity to Brittany and the plans include the reconstruction of an early celtic monastery and the sculpting and placing on the site of around 1,000 3-metre tall granite statues each representing a breton saint.
There are currently 50 statues and more are planned for 2015, to be sculpted during June and September.
Walking, cycling, or on horseback
A few kilometres away in the depths of the landes de Locarn, you will find les gorges du Corong. This impressive chaos of granite boulders, dumped at the end of the last ice age, fills the gorge and continues to be eroded by streams running over and underground through fissures in the bedrock.
….walking along the Nante-Brest canal ... cycling along the routes of old railway lines
...following the footpaths along the Pink Granite coast ... hiking in dans les monts d’Arrée
Enjoy the fresh air – it doesn’t have a health warning.
Seaside
Within an hour’s drive you will find the three coasts of Brittany all with their different characteristics : to the north, the coves and inlets of the Pink Granite Coast are formed, as the name suggests, by rose tinted rocks beaten by the sea into fantastic shapes. Paimpol, Pontrieux, Tréguier, Plestin les Grèves, Tregastel, Morlaix and Roscoff are all interesting towns with their different characteristics and personalities.
Further west, the wild northern headland of Finistere looks out to where the Atlantic meets the Channel. The west coast of Brittany begins with Brest and its fine natural harbour and the rugged coastline continues past the Crozon and Sizun peninsulars to Douarnenez a small fishing town, famed for its sardines.
Inland the blue-grey granite houses of Locronan, a small town nestling against a hillside, which was the capital of Brittany’s sailcloth industry from the end of the 15th to the middle of the 18th century. In recent years it has taken advantage of its natural beauty and has become both a Breton tourist centre and the setting for many French films.
Follow the coast round to the south of Brittany and you will find good beaches and resorts including the towns of Quimper, Concarneau and Pont l’Abbé.
Music
Traditional Breton fetes are held thoughout the summer in most towns. Within half a mile of us is one of the best attended in the area welcoming well over 1 000 people. The Fest Noz du Cosquer is held each 14th August.
Chants Marins- Paimpol early August
The Festival Interceltique de Lorient takes place during the 1st week in August, as the name suggests is a celebration of all things celtic.
Les Vieilles Charrues is an international music festival presenting acts from around the world. It takes place on the 3rd weekend in July in Carhaix.
Chants marins is a festival held in Paimpol each August where the public can listen to renditions of sea shanties from round the world together with songs by more contemporary artists
Shops and services
Carnoët is the closest village and has a post office, tabac and a small shop selling fresh bread and general provisions (open 7am to 8pm Tuesday to Saturday and 7am to 1pm Sunday)
The closest small towns are Callac (8km) and Carhaix (13km). Both have supermarkets, petrol, banks, a selection of shops and a few bars, restaurants, pizzerias, creperies and kebab shops.
Markets in the area offer an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and cheese and can be found in most towns.
Monday - Trégastel
Tuesday - Rostrenen, Bourbriac
Wednesday - Callac, Belle-Isle-en-Terre, Tréguier, Loquirec
Thursday - Dinan, Lannion
Friday - Guingamp, Perros-Guirec
Saturday - Carhaix, Guingamp, Morlaix
Sunday - Plestin-les-Grèves
